DREAMLAND: THE JOURNEY BEGINS

By CHERYL RODD

Dreamland is a fantasy about a 7 year old girl named Tara and her nightly visits to Dreamland. Dreamland is a parallel universe where everyone who dreams goes. It's as real as the place we inhabit in our waking hours, separated by the fabric of time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Regency Publishers
• Release date: May 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781961096530

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Copyright © 2023 by Cheryl Rodd.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author and publisher, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

ISBN: 978-1-961096-54-7 (Paperback Edition)

ISBN: 978-1-961096-55-4 (Hardcover Edition)

ISBN: 978-1-961096-53-0 (E-book Edition)

Some characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to the real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Book Ordering Information

The Regency Publishers, US

521 5th Ave 17th floor NY, NY10175

Phone Number: [phone] ext 1007

Email: [e-mail]

www.theregencypublishers.com

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Summary

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

SUMMARY

Dreamland is a parallel universe with as many facets as are in the conscious world. Everyone who sleeps has gone there. Some remember and some don’t.

Everyone thinks it is all in our subconscious mind and that our imagination has created it, but Dreamland is there all the time, we are the transient visitors. Our state of mind, our level of relaxation and our hopes and fears just determine what area of Dreamland we visit each Night.

Sometimes, we have to face our fears or enemies and other times we are in a certain area of Dreamland to learn important things about ourselves, our past or our future.

Dreamland is as real a place as where we live in our waking hours. There are permanent residents there, both good and evil. They have a Dream Keeper in charge of the entire place and Division Masters for each area. The guides that lead us through our visits are sometimes unseen to us, but they are always with us. They are either Dream Gnomes or Nightmare Fairies. Everything we can imagine, good and evil, is all there. There are beautiful forests, fields, oceans, sunsets, human emotion, and ominous swamps with crawling, slithering creatures throughout.

Now we know that it is always there. What would happen if the fabric that separates us from Dreamland did tear, even slightly, what then?

Chapter 1

It started like any other dream Tara ever had. Floating, happily, as a 7-year-old does, between her own world and Dreamland. She was dressed in a flowing angelic white gown as she flew and floated through the darkened streets of her own neighborhood.

As she floated happily, over the familiar rooftops of her friends’ homes, she noticed a sudden damp chill in the air. It was like a misty, cold wave of fear and darkness.

Suddenly, she was standing in an old-fashioned parlor, in front of a huge set of glass doors. They were like French doors with the wood slats all through them and gold trim around each individual pane of glass. As Tara turned from the window, slowly, as in a dream, she saw the outline of a small child curled up, in a huge, overstuffed chair in front of an ornate fireplace. The fire seemed to be slowly dying out as the red and yellow flames slowly danced in a row over a tiny pile of glowing embers. The child, crying as if his heart was breaking, seemed not to know Tara was even there.

Tara edged closer to the sobbing child. As she neared the chair the boy bolted upright, from his fetal position, at the sound of her footsteps. When their eyes met, he bolted from the chair into Tara’s outstretched arms. Tara was so surprised that her arms had even been outstretched, let alone that he had jumped into them, that she lost her balance and fell backwards. Just as she felt herself fall, she glanced over her shoulder, and much to her relief, she noticed another overstuffed chair there to break their fall. They landed with a thud and the little boy on top of her giggled. His wide eyes and shy smile made her giggle too.

Mama, mama your back! he shrieked.

Tara looked down at herself and realized that she was not 7 years old anymore. She was a grown woman, obviously a mother, and dressed in early 19th century clothing, complete with lace up boots. Before she could fully digest this amazing and spontaneous transition, she could hear herself speaking.

There, there now Seth. What is all this fuss about? I was only in the kitchen making our hot cocoa. Tara soothed.

Tara’s mind was reeling. How could she be this little boy’s mother when she was only a 7-year-old girl a minute ago? The only explanation she could find was that she was in Dreamland and that this little boy must need her there for a reason. So, she decided to relax and just see where all this would lead them as the dream unfolded.

No sooner had Tara made this decision when she and Seth heard an incredible crash. It sounded like it was directly over the house. Seth clung to her even harder now and began whimpering. Tara knew that their only hope was to follow her gut instincts, because she had no idea what to expect. This dream drama was about Seth not Tara the 7 year old. She had to become his mother in order to really help him. Suddenly, another loud bang. This time it felt like it was inside the house, upstairs. Sheer terror overtook her senses as she grabbed Seth’s little hand and slowly rose from their chair.

The shelter. she heard herself whisper to Seth.

Yippee! Seth exclaimed.

The words were barely out of his mouth when they were on foot hurrying toward the parlor door to the hall. Seth was leading the way and Tara could only assume they were headed for the shelter that she, herself had mentioned. Seth dragged her through the enormous kitchen at the back of the house then, down a long hallway, through another narrow door, left, and then down a winding hallway. Seth stopped short in front of a small door that looked to Tara to be too small to even fit through.

The key, Mama, the key! Seth whispered urgently.

Tara searched through the folds of her antique housedress until she finally found a hidden pocket, just behind her waistband. She gently pulled on a ribbon that was pinned to the pocket lining. When she pulled, she could feel something sliding out of the pocket. It was an ancient skeleton key tied to the ribbon. She immediately grabbed it and slid it into the keyhole of this odd door. Much to her surprise the key not only fit, but it also turned and the door swung open with such force that she and Seth were nearly knocked to the floor.

Tara gently shoved Seth behind the folds of her skirt as she peered carefully around the corner of the doorway. What she saw amazed her. The staircase was unlike anything she had ever seen. It was a spiral, but it was made of black iron. It looked like it wound around itself as it gradually led downwards. She clutched Seth’s hand, and as they began their descent the stairway began to sway gently, back and forth. As Tara looked towards the ceiling, she could barely make out suspension cables of some kind. They creaked ominously as she and Seth stepped from one stair to the next. It was like walking on air. Seth clung to her skirt and hand as they slowly navigated each stair.

Tara was grateful for the kerosene lamp she had taken off the wall outside the doorway because there was no other light source on the stairs. It felt, to Tara, like they were entering the very core of the earth. The smell of dampness was almost overpowering.

There seemed to be no end to the staircase.

They slowly moved further down into the vast darkness with only the small lamp to guide them.

Suddenly there was a huge flash of light. It was a bright red color and it blinded Tara. She stumbled and felt herself falling for what seemed like an eternity. As she fell all she could hear was Seth’s tiny, frightened voice screaming, Mama, Mama, don’t leave me here all alone. Mama, please...

Mama, Mama, don’t leave me here all alone. Mama, please..."

Chapter 2

Tara awoke bathed in sweat and screaming; Mama, Mama don’t leave me here all alone.

Katherine, hearing her daughters’ distress, bolted up the stairs, two at a time. When she reached Tara’s bedroom door, it was locked from the inside and there was an eerie red glow all around it.

Tara, open this door, now! Katherine screamed through the door.

I can’t Mommy. It’s too hot. Tara whined back at her mother.

Andrew come here, quickly, it’s happening again! Katherine bellowed to her husband.

Kay, my Lord, you’ll wake the dead screaming like that. What is it now? Andrew shot back as he, too took the stairs two at a time.

Andrew reached the top step just in time to see the red glow fading. Tara’s door flew open as if it had a mind of it’s own and crashed against the wall.

Dear God in Heaven, what now? he muttered to himself.

Kay was on the bed, in one bound, holding her quaking daughter.

It’s okay, honey. It was only a dream. Everything is going to be all right. Mommy’s here now honey. Kay crooned to her terrified child.

Andrew slowly approached and sat gently on the edge of the bed. He laid his hand on Kay’s shoulder to soothe her, but the look of agony in her eyes was finally more than he could take.

Honey, we need help. This can’t go on any longer. This is not normal., he whispered to his wife.

Alright Drew, I’ll go call Dr. Cain again and see if he has any new ideas for us. But I had better wait until morning, it’s 3AM now. Kay relented.

Tara, honey, you get some sleep now. Mommy will call Dr. Cain in the morning. Everything will be okay, just rest now. Kay whispered in a desperate attempt to comfort her child.

No! Tara shrieked. I have to save Seth! The little boy. My little boy! I can’t just leave him there all alone! Tara was almost hysterical.

Kay nodded to Drew and he slowly backed out of the room, silently, He went to the upstairs den to call Dr. Cain. Lately, the dreams were more frequent, more graphic and Tara seemed to remember them better. After all, Dr. Cain was the best in his field, whatever his field was called. Dream phobia is what Drew was calling it lately.

The phone rang six times before a sleepy voice croaked, Dr. Cain!

It took Dr, Cain all of twenty minutes to get to the Prescott’s house, which was actually a forty-minute ride. Kay already had the coffee on. Drew sat at the kitchen table, head in hands, trying to make some sense of this nightmare their life had become.

Tara had been having dreams as long as he could remember, but since she turned seven the dreams had become more frequent. They all seemed to have some hidden message in them. Like someone or something was trying to tell them something, important. Was Tara losing her mind?

Was the whole family in some kind of danger? All these months of therapy, hypnosis and dream analysis and still no closer to an answer and no real proof of anything at all.

Kay and Dr. Cain had been up in Tara’s room for well over an hour, when they finally materialized in the kitchen doorway. Kay looked totally drained, and Dr. Cain looked perplexed and bewildered.

Kay poured them each a cup of coffee and refilled Drew’s cup. When she finally sat down, she immediately put her head in her hands, elbows on the table and wept. She was feeling the effects of constant worry over her daughter’s worsening condition, whatever condition that was? Not knowing what was wrong or how she could help her daughter was the worst part of all. Seeing her daughter distressed was taking its toll on both Andrew and Katherine.

Too weak and too exhausted to cry any longer, Kay raised her head from her hands and reached across the table to Drew’s hand. As they sat together in silent misery, Dr. Cain was feverishly making notes.

Okay folks. Dr. Cain finally announced, glancing from one to the other. Here is what I propose, he continued hesitantly.

The Sleep Centre has an opening and it is nearing the end of school for the summer. I think we should admit Tara immediately for some detailed clinical assessment. Dr. Cain paused and took a deep breath before continuing.

The closeness between Kay and Tara is a strong soothing agent for both of you. That is why I believe that you, Kay should come with us. He raised his hand, open, to stave off any arguments and then continued.

I know it will be difficult for you Drew, but the process will go more smoothly and a great deal faster if Kay and Tara are kept together. he sighed.

Okay, Doctor! Drew began, I love my wife and daughter more than anything. I know that they share a special bond. I also know that Tara would be much better off with Kay at her side. How long a process are we talking about, anyway?" Drew finally moved his gaze, although reluctantly, from Kay to Dr. Cain.

Dr. Cain drew in a long breath and looked from Kay to Drew and back again. There is really no way to know for sure he began. It all depends on how quickly Tara responds to our sleep therapy program. With a little luck we could accomplish a great deal in a few short weeks.

The word weeks slammed into Drew like a hammer at top speed. He just gazed at Dr. Cain and whispered, Will I be able to visit or at least call every day?

After the first week of orientation, initial testing and assessment, visits could be arranged. Dr Cain replied evenly.

Well, I guess I could handle it for a week if it will help Tara at all. Tara cannot go on like this for much longer. She needs help, and if she can get it at the Sleep Centre, then I’m all for it. Drew finished, reluctantly.

"Kay, how